The journals of Francis Gwillim Simcoe : late of the 27th Regt. of Foot [Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers] ...

August 1808 After being Reviewed by Sir David Baird, Sept. the 8th we received an order to march the following morning at 5 oclock for the Cove of Cork, where boats were to be ready for us to embark _ it fell to my lot to command the baggage Guard, which went down the river in boats _ we had a most delightful row, and arrived in the Harbour where I embarked the baggage on board the different ships _ Cove is a very pretty little town & the harbour very beautiful _ during my stay at this place I went to see Cork by water ; it is about 6 miles distant _ I was much pleased with any sail which was beautiful & picturesque & passed by a pretty village called Monkstown, where lay some of the troops that composed part of our expedition _ Cork is a handsome town _ the fortifications are

September 1808 are very grand _ there is one battery of 40 pieces of cannon, consisting of 24 Rounders _ at last Transports arriving with the artillery on the 19th, and others coming from Monkstown on the 20th, the Staff Officers & horses were embarked _ 23rd On the 23rd of September we left Cove with 60 sail of Transports, with a fair wind, in which were embarked the Royals, 26th 23rd, 31st, 87th and 2 other Regts. _ the 27th (our Regt.) is about 800 strong & we have left near 300 behind under the Command of Major Neynoe _ we sail under convoy of the Dryad Frigate _ the Transport Harriet, in which I am, is a very fine ship, built much like an East Indiaman _ the wind being changeable we did not arrive at Falmouth till the 28th _ on entering the harbour we found about 100 sail of Transports _ October 3rd Left Falmouth on the 3rd of October with 160 sail of Transports _ on leaving the Harbour we received a grand salute from Pendennis, & arrived at Corunna

full page reproduction of a painting of Corunna, entitled Corunna taken from the Citadel – image

October 1808 on the 13th, after a voyage of 4 days _ there was scarcely ever known so fine a passage for a convoy _ the La Loire, Champion & Amelia Frigates convoyed us _ the entrance into the harbour is very grand _ I obtain’d leave of the Commander in Chief to go on shore (without which no Officer is allowed) _ the town is large, the streets narrow, the harbour is extremely well fortified, & the garrison very fine _ I ran a battalion of a 1,000 strong _ composed entirely of Peasantry _ they were a fine body of young men, & were immediately going to march into the interior of Spain ; they were miserably dressed, but every man had either a red cockade in his hat / which every Patriot wears / or a ribbon with “Viva Fernando VII.” _ since our arrival in the Country they have worn a black cockade over the red & we in return wear the red over the black _ I went to an Opera where I was extremely well entertained ; it was adapted to the present time representing the reconciliation of the

map entitled Plan of the Town & Harbour of Corunna – image